Air cleaner



Jan. 20, 1953 J. B, sEBoK 2,626,010

AIR CLEANER Filed April 5, 1951 4 SheetS-Shee. 2

[ayez-DPM Jas'eph 5.566.04

Jan. 20, 1953 J. B. sEBoK 2,626,010

AIR CLEANER Filed April 5, 1951 4 sheets-sheet s Jan. 20, 1953 J. B.sEBoK 2,626,010

AIR CLEANER Filed April 5, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 JUVEH UTM y J@ .ebw

Patented Jan. 20, 1953 AIR CLEANER Joseph B. Sebok, Detroit, Mich.,assigner to Houdaille-Hershey Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporationof Michigan Application April 5, 1951, Serial No. 219,368

(c1. 18s-45)l 6 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in an air cleaner, and moreparticularly to the type of air cleaner highly desirable for use inconnection with the air intake of a carburetor associated with aninternalvcombustion engine, although the invention will have other usesand purposes as with compressors, braking mechanisms, and otherapparatus requiring a supply of clean air, as will be apparent to oneskilled in the art.

The instant invention is not only highly suitable for use with varioustypes of commercial, personal, and industrial automotive vehicles, butis also highly desirable for use in connection with military automotivevehicles.

Liquid bath air cleaners have proven most efficient for cleansing theair entering the carburetorof an automotive engine. Present day designsof automotive vehicles of all types leave very little room beneath thehood for the accommodation of an air cleaner, even an air cleanerwithout an intake silencing arrangement. In order to provide thenecessary amount of air for the increasingly powerful engines now beingdeveloped, a liquid bath air cleaner must of necessity be fairlysizable. When mounted within the engine compartment of a vehicle, insome cases it is substantially impossible to properly service such anair cleaner by removing the liquid cup from the bottom cf the cleaner.Further, military vehicles, as designed today, must be able to travelunder water Whichmeans that the air cleaner must function whilecompletely submerged.

In the past, many and various types of liquid bath air cleaners havebeen developed for automotive engines, but in no instance of which I amaware has there been an air cleaner, especially of the liquid bath type,that can be completely serviced from the top only, and in no instance ofwhich I am aware has there been any air cleaner developed that willoperate while submerged.

With the foregoing in mind, it is an important object of the instantinvention to provide an air cleaner capable of satisfactory operation onan underwater vehicle.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a Waterproof liquidbath air cleaner that may be submerged completely While operating.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of an aircleaner of the liquid bath type, that may be completely serviced fromthe top only, such cleaner being especially suitable for installationwhere there is no room to permit bottom servicing.

A further feature of the invention is the provision of a liquid bath aircleaner including a casing of separable parts, and wherein only one sealperforms both. functions of sealing off the dirty air stream from thecleaned air stream, and rendering the `entire structure watertight.

Another desideratum of the instant invention resides in the provision ofa liquid bath air cleaner wherein the liquid sump or cup is removablefrom the outside casing along with the filter holding shell, and thendetachable from that lter holding shell.

Another feature of the invention resides in the provision of a liquidbath air cleaner embodying a simple connection between the filterholding shell and the liquid cup, requiring no tools forthe separationor joining of these parts. p

Still a further object of this invention resides in the provision 0f aliquid bath rair cleaner for under Water use, wherein the liquid cup isshaped to effect a seal with the outside casing to preclude any loss ofcleansing liquid outside of the cup in the event of backfire, andwherein the liquid cup is held down in sealing position by the filterstructure thereabove.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a liquid bath aircleaner that may be serviced from the top, and wherein the liquid cup isseparate from the filter holding shell and associated structure, butprovided with means to facilitate its removal fromthe outside casing#after removal of the lter holding shell.

Still a further feature of the invention resides in the provision of aliquid bath air cleaner for under Water usage, so constructed that allpermanently connected parts may be hydrogen brazed or equivalentlysecured together in a single pass through a brazing furnace.

While some of the more salient features, characteristics and advantagesof the instant invention have been above pointed out, vothers willbecome apparent from the following disclosures,

.taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1is a top plan view of an air cleaner embodying principles of the instantinvention;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view through the air cleaner, takensubstantially as indicated by the staggered section line II-II of Fig.l, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary part sectional part elevational view of theupper corner portion of the structure, illustrating the cover clampingmeans in elevation;

Figure 4 is an exploded vertical sectional view taken in the same.location as Fig.Y 2 but showing the separator parts of the cleanerdisconnected from each other;

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view of the same character and locationas Fig. 2, but illustrating a cleaner embodying principles of theinstant invention but having a somewhat different interior construction;

Figure 6 is a bottom plan sectional View, frag, mentary in character,and taken substantially as indicated by the line VI-VI of Fig. 5; and

Figure 7 is a greatly enlarged fragmentary ver tical sectional viewtaken as indicated by the line -5 VII-VII of Fig. 6.

As shown on the drawings:

In the illustrated embodiment v-of f'this n'invene tion, as seen inFigs. l to 4 inclusive, there is shown an outer fabricated casingl;.preferablyh though not necessarily, of generally cylindrical shape. Thebody of the casing is initially-sepa` rate from the bottom 2 and thisbody part is stepped in as indicated Aat L3; withv the `.upper mar@ ginof .the body-2 Atelescoping'withthebody there n adjacent toprovide aseat for an'annular gasket 4.

Where `parts ofthis l-outercasing .areconnected together, f andY where.-other elements. to .be later described are attached thereto,the..connections are preferably. accomplished` yby y lhydrogen braz-f.

ing,` although theymightbewelded, or equiva-f.

lently secured.` Rivets and thelikeare .preferably avoided,l owing tothefact .that theheads must.

be soldered around in order toinsurethat `the casing is watertight.

As .seen-in Figs. 2 and .3,1 the upper margin. of.A the casing. I isrolled outwardly .toprovideanannular-bead 5. Belowthis.bead.5the;casinghasV an apertured flange, and anl intake conduit 6.;

brazed or A equivalently securedv in place.- This intake conduit 611sfor .dirty-- air .aand .when the cleaner is .associatedv withthe engineof. anzunder-, water vehicle, this Yconduit `will be ...connected `.in

known as a-snorkle tubeor some other tube which extends verticallyupwardly .beyond the depth. the

vehicle may safely travel.= Anyzfsuitable -formpf mounting bracketl 1maybe attached .to theoutside surface of -the .casing .I vdependingnpontherequirements of the particular.. installation, and

is attached preferably below .thev inlet 6./

A removable cover .8 Visiprovidedfor the .fcasingg I,. and-as seenclearlyinfFigs. 2,-and 3,.this;coverv is circumferentially channeled-asvindicatedv at ,-91

cover is lmounted. onthencasing,l rests '.onfthe.l aforesaid'annularbead 5'.; Adjacent rthe channel; formationl 9,l the Vcover .is provided.with. anfannu.- lar groove I I .to accommodate..clampingomeansr Thecover is removably :held tothe .casingby,

means of aplurality .of :fovercenter clamping-.de-

vicesfgenerally indicated bynumeral vI2 in. Fig. 1 which devices .may.be .di'sposed in anyasuitable Ior. desirable location. Eachofrtheseedevices .is .of ,l thensameA generalv` character. .las seen. inmy prior,Y

Patent No. 2,401,322, issued J une .4,- 1946, although in the-present.instance lthe .clampingdevices are inverted withvrespecttolthe showingin th'eaforef said patent; With-referenceto .'Fig.. 3 .it will-be prisesa link` I3-fixedly attached. to thecasing I,

and a handle link I4zpivotal1yfconnected, to,v the;v

fixedv link- Asgenerally. U'fshaped rhasp; member I5has its outer end`downwardly turnedas at 2.1.6.r to engage within the groove :I I ginrthercover, and the legs of this element are inwardly'turnQd-andconnectedto the handle link-.I 4 Awhicheisfof Achannelshape.. Each'` leghas a: springroll I'I'infanjnaflwatertight manner to the intake of thecar- 40 anY airtight .manner with...what ris ,now commonly seenthat la.clamping. `device .'.I 2,: in. generalpcomf.

termediate portion thereof, and the hasp element is preferably made ofspring wire. It will thereupon be seen that when the end I6 of the haspelement is eng-aged in the groove II, and the handle link I4 is moveddownwardly to the position seen in Fig. 3, the cover is firmly heldagainst the casing I with the gasket I0 sealing against the bead 5 torender thestructure watertight.

An outlet conduit I8 is connected ito the cover 8, and this conduit willin turn be connected in vided,-withjangimperforate central portionaround` which -is anannular series of 4large openings 23.

Restingon the bottominsidethe-shell. and generallylling the-body portion-of the` shell lis a, filter mass 24. over Ythe top of which is avscreen. The, filter Imass or sheet of hardware cloth 25. 24 maybe ofVany-suitable material, such as-curled cattle tail! hair, sisal or other`vegetable.. fiber,- ,y

This.

wavedwire or ribbon, or=the equivalent.` filtervv holding shell also.carries a baille y26 de pending therebelow and. braz'ed orequivalently.V secured .to the imperforate center portion of .the

bottom 22,1, thisbailie functioning in the same.. manner as thesirnilarbaffle shown in my ,afore-..

said Patent 2,401,322.

Itffwill be. noted that when thelter shell. is

mounted-.1in position, the flanged mouthA 2| of the. top piece does` notextend .completely over.

the beadl 5,. but only partially thereover so that the gasket` I`'willmakean effective seal,.'both.

airand watertight, between the flange 2l and the bead 5,` as well asbetween the bead 5`ancl the cover 8.' Dirty air enters through'l theintake 6 and clean air exits through the inside of the top. piece .29,so the gasket .I performs the double function of rendering thel entirestructure Ywater'- tight and also sealing oif'thedirtyair path' from theclean vair path.

In the lower portion of Y,the outencasingfl la...y

liquid. sumpor cup Z'Itis' 4removably disposed.

The upper margin of this cupgis .turned outwardly anddownwardly asindicatedA at '28 to provide. a 'biting edge contact with' theaforesaid' annular... gasket l4-so as to effect 'aseal 'between the4cup- 211.' and th"e"bottornv 2 of the'outer casing., Secured vto thecentral region ofthe liquid cup. 211'is upstanding generally cylindrical,element 29 pro.-

vided withz a pluralityvv of lrelatively .large ,apertures jthroughthesidewall .thereof and..in. wardly flanged. as at 3 I. .at the top.This flange seats against the central imperforateportionqof the.bafIle.-26,.so vthat when the filter. holding-shell isplaced .in position,andthe cover 8 clamped to the casing I the nltergholding;v shellpushes,- 4downwardly on the liquid cup 21 to insure fa...

positive I seal :between the, rolled rims28and .the gasket 4.;

At the startwofan operation-,fthe cup.2'1'is dined. with` a .suitablecleansing liquid, suchfas crankcase oil-, to.,approximately;the..staticlevel'iindii-g cated by the dash-dot line 32 in Fig.;2;l Air,.:en.-

ters." thlollhztheinlet descends through the annular lintake'passa'ge 33between the lter holding shell and the outer casing, passes upwardlyover the baffle 26, carrying some cleansing liquid therewith, and due toits contact with the cleansing liquid and the filter mass 24 is not onlycleaned .of impurities, but is also freed of entrainedpcleansing liquidbefore leaving the filter mass 24.- The air passes upwardly through thefilter mass, through the top piece 20, and exits through theo-utlet I8to the device requiring clean air.

In the event of backfire through the carburetor of an engine or backpressure impulses from'a compressor with which the cleanermay beassociated, there wll be a reverse flow of air and a possible elevationof cleansing liquid up the inlet passage 33. By virtue of the sealbetween the turned margin 28 on the cup 21 and thegasket 4 none of thisliquid can escape into a useless position in the space 34 between theouter casing bottom 2 and the cup 21, and the cleaner is neverunintentionally depleted of cleansing liquid.

Iny the form of invention just described, the liquid cup 21 is separatefrom the filter holding shell and its associated parts, but as will morefully ,later appear herein, it may be removably attached to thatstructure if so desired.

With reference now to Fig. 4, it will be seen that'the. cleaner may beentirely serviced from the top. When the clamps I2 are released, byelevating the handle levers I4, the cover 8 may be lifited off the outercasing I. Then the filter housing' shell I9 together rwith the baffle 26may be lifted out by grasping the top piece 20. Reaching into the shelland inserting his fingers in the apertures 30 of the upstandingcylindrical element 29 in the liquid cup 21, the operato-r may readilyremove this liquid cup. There is no necessity whatever to do any work atthe bottom of the outer casing I, nor disturb the position of thatcasing in any manner to effect the servicing.

After removal, the liquid cup 21 may be emptied of its accumulated dirtand contaminated liquid, and replenished with the proper amount of newcleansing liquid, and then placed in position with its turned margin 28yseated on the gasket 4. The lter holding shell I9 may be swished throughgasoline, kerosene, or-some other cleansing liquid, to cleanse thefilter mass 24, if so desired, then dried and replaced in the casing Iwith the ange 2|y engaging-the bead v5. After that the top 8 may beplaced in position and the clamps adjusted to closed position. Theadjustment of the clamps effects the seals at the gasket IIJ, and eX-erts some pressure on the filter holding shell so that it by suchadditional pressure and its own weight establishes a firm seal betweenthe rolled margin 28 of the liquid cup and the gasket 4. The device isthen ready for further operation.

In some instances, such for example as in military field use, spareparts are stocked and kept ready for use in connection with manymechanisms. Insofar as possible, it is desirable to have these spareparts of a universal nature so that the same parts will t in severaldifferent devices. Should a user possess a number of spare filter unitslike that shown in my aforesaid Patent No. 2,401,322 and insist thatthose units be usable with the instant invention, rather than carry twodifferent types of spare filter units, the instant invention must becapable of acccommodating them. To this end, I have illustrated in Fig.5 a modified form of the instant invention capable of taking the filterunit of Patent No. 2,401,322.

The outer casing structure is the same as above described. In thisinstance, however, the lter unit includes a shell I9 having a bottom 22with openings 23 therein just as above described, and a filter mass 24.The upper portion of the shell I9 is turned over the margin of the.screen 25. The same baille 26 is also used with the filter unit. A bolt35 extends entirely through the filter unit, and at its lower end,outside the baiiie, is provided with a winged head 36. By suitablewasher means at each end thereof, such as the top washer 31, the lterunit is locked to the bolt so it cannot move longitudinally relativelyto the bolt. The upper end of the bolt is threaded as at 38 in itsprojecting portion.

lSuch construction requires a different form of top piece from thatpreviously described. In this instance, a fabricated top piece isutilized including a cup-like member 39 having a spider bottom 40 withlarge openings 4I therein, and to which a nut 42 is centrally affixed.The upper margin of this cup-like element 29 is flared outwardly as at2| to seat `on top of the bead 5 on the outer casing I. An annularhousing member 43 is brazed or equivalently secured to the element 39,is shaped or channeled to provide a seat for a gasket 44, and has adepending cylindrical flange 45 to telescopically receive the shell I9of the lter unit. Since the filter unit is removable from the cupconstruction, the gasket 44 is necessary to prevent leakage of dirty airaround the filter unit.

The filter unit may be disconnected by the n simple expedient of turningthe winged head 36 of the bolt, and unscrewing the threaded end 38 ofthe bolt from the nut 42, and replaced by an opposite operation. Thisstructure functions the same as the previously described embodiment.

In Figs. 5, 6 and 7 I have also shown an arrangement whereby the oil cup21 may be lifted out of the outer casing I along with the lter unit whenservicing of the cleaner is required. It is to be distinctly understoodthat this arrangement, now about to be described, may also be utilizedwith the structure shown in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, if so desired. Tothis end, the imperforate central portion 26a of the baille 26 isprovided with a plurality of downwardly struck tongues 46. The inwardlyturned'flange 3| at the top of the cylindrical element 29 affixed to thebottom of the liquid cup 21 is provided with a similar numberofapertures 41. It is a simple expedient, therefore, to place the flange3| against the imperiorate portion 26a of the baiile, and rotate theliquid cup 21 slightly until the tongues 46 interlock through theopenings 41 with the flange 3| as shown clearly in Fig. 7

With this arrangement, when the filter unit is lifted from the casing Ifor servicing, the liquid cup 21 travels along with it, and a simpleslight twist of the cup relatively to this filter unit will serve toseparate them after removal from the casing I. The cup may be cleansedand replenished with cleaning liquid, and then attached to the filterunit or to the underside of the baie, before these parts are replaced inthe casing I. From the foregoing, it is apparent that I have provided anovel form of liquid bath air cleaner, which will operate efficientlywhen completely submerged, and which may be serviced entirely from thetop of the cleaner in a simple and expeditious manner. Furthermore, itwill be noted that an underwater cleaner of this character may bemanufactured substantially as economically as previously known liquidbath ail:

7?;v cleaners zthatfgwill i not: function? underxwaten :and requireservicing fromfthersbottom'.:

It :Will I be .understood :.that modiiicaticns:fandmV variations.f may`be; effe'cteld.A Without:- departing;

cupiiextendingf-'upwardly intoucontact-withn-Isaidi12 ginsofusaid .cupzzinto 1- tight asso'ciati'on with '--saidl gasketto-festablish a.rliquidtight sealzbetween .'theiy fromrthe scope. of thenovel-'.conceptslbf` the pres-1 5 ,toprothe; cupeandthevcaisingfiwall.

ent invention;n

I claim asv my.V invention:

1.; In an air. cleaner, a casing.includingiaxbody' with la.closedbottorn :and aremovable cover; saldi:`

cup fin'said casing 1 adj acentrthewbottom lthereofg'w a 'lteringlunitinthe fcasin'g fabove'isaiddiquidll cup; f both :said Acup L and-unit1being:rrenrovalslle through Ither top: of theIcaSingV -body'uponremoval of said cover, and coacting- -means-carriedby1ther filternunit-l and cup forremovably connecting the/liquid cupftovthe flteruni-tfo'rremovalfrontAT and replacement in the casing-therewith; 1

2.'1In`an Vair cleaner,va1casing 'including' la 'bodyxfl'ianfaircleaner; a icasing iincludinggaxbdyV-V. with a :closedfbottom 'and a 4removable 'colver said' f' 'f CaiSDgLl-aving an inlet:andi/,an outlet, 1a tubular" lterf assembly f Suspended.; Within SaidCasing; casingfzhaving an: inlet .andaanA outle'tgxa :liquidfzm,fromtheiupperfrimof the casihgzb0dy--sadag., Sembly being of lesscross-sectional areazzathgnz;

the casin'gbelowfsaid 'rifiuta `provide.fan airpatn aroundtth-iassemblwan annulapagasket` insidei saidasingffabove thefbottomthereof," ai liquid i `15 ,a cups having. 2 a Vlzturned mar'g-infto'l:seatv .on said f 1 gasketwith thecup'dependingtherebelovv;means1 in-saidoup extending upwardly into-eo'ntactwithf" margin i 'of-'said fcup'f into tightf association 1' Withwith'a closed-bottom `and -aremovablecovergf'said"20413Said-gasket' to establishla liquidtightsealbetween casing-having an inletand an'outlet; a gasket around the-insideof said casing abovethe bottom;4 thereof, a liquid vcup having anoutwardly turned" margin to provide edge'contactWth-said gasket with thecup depending therebelow and establish a liquidtight seal YlzletweenltheY topof' the'A cup and casing wall, and'ltering means labovesaid cupthrough which air must pass to said' outlets 3; In'an aircleaner, a,casing including a body*- releasabl'e interlocking means-'between saidlcup'Y- and said assembly whereby the entire'assemblyv and-fcup-mayberemoved ras a unit-,throughthe 25;-1fupperiendof'said-'casing body uponremovalI of said fcoverz 6.*Iri anair cleaner' for underwateriservi'ce,\la casing of l"elongated cup "shape open" at the itop" and- Vsealedwatertight'-thereb'elovv, said casing with a closed bottom and aremovable cover; saidonfhaving an air inlet throughthe'sd'e'adjacent'the:

casing having an inlet land anoutletya'gasket:

around the inside of said casing above the/bottom thereof, a, liquid cuphaving an outwardlyturned margin to provide edgeContact'vvithsaidgasket:

unit above said cup through which'air'mustpass" to said outlet; saidfilter unit 'resting on a part of said cup'tohold the cup in tightassociation with' said gasket and establish a liquidtight seal betweenthe top of the cup and the casing wall.'i' 40S-f 4. In an air cleaner, acasing including a body" With a closed bottom and a removable cover,saidY casing having an inlet and an outlet,a tubular lterassemblysuspended within' said 'casingfrom the upper rimA of the casingbddygsaid'as-y 45 sembly of less cross-sectional area than th casingbelow said rim tov providean airpatli around; the assembly, an annulargasket inside saidlasr.. ing above the bottom thereof, a liquid cuphaving a turned margin to seat on said gasket. Withth' -50 Nmber'. Y cupdepending therebelow, and/'means Y in'. saidv ,i

top, a removable cover=for`^said casing having an outlet -fo"r cleaned"air, "a Aremovable liquid .cup

in said casingjrneans eictng 'a liquidtight" 'seal' betweenthe upperedgeof'fsai-cll cup' Yandv the cas-` than said casing' abvesa'id liquidrcup.;-

JOSEPH BJrSEBOKs..

REFERENCES 5 CITED The following references are ofrecord inthe le ofVthis patentz UNITED STATES' PATENTS f- Great-Britain Dcf. 1 1,11945A 5

